Did I Capture Aliens?!

[lpostrand47]

Ok, so I was on my girlfriends roof last night in West Hollywood, CA, and I took this Picture. I believe I was using the following settings: 3'30" at f/32, ISO 100 on a Canon T1i, with a Tamron 10-24. I took this picture twice and it was still there in the second one, even with a longer exposure. I then took some random pictures and I wasn't there, which tells me it's not something in my lens. There was no light on the roof that was projecting that way. I'm really curious as to what this streak of light may be. Any ideas?

[michaelhschmitt]

I wonder if there was something spraying liquid (water)? Was there any mechanical equipment on the roof that could have been discharging condenser water? As I look at the image, it looks like something moving through the air that has reflectivity (as seen by the colors). Just a thought.

[RLucas]

Looks like flare from somewhere to me.

[Liz Caldwell]

Where do you live, and what time was it? Maybe it's faint aurora borealis?

(I live in cali, so I've never seen the real thing, but the photos I've seen vary a lot...)

I'd say either that or a light, like the moon, had an odd effect with the star filter...

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by Liz Caldwell

Where do you live, and what time was it? Maybe it's faint aurora borealis?

(I live in cali, so I've never seen the real thing, but the photos I've seen vary a lot...)

I'd say either that or a light, like the moon, had an odd effect with the star filter...

I don't think there was any type of filter used. The star pattern is from being so heavily stopped down. This is a natural lens function.

[Liz Caldwell]

yea, I suppose you're right (don't do much in the way of cityscapes myself)... and I just saw the Hollywood part (should have recognized the Staples Center in there, lol)... yup, it's aliens. Sell it to the Enquirer for no less than $500k

[Liz Caldwell]

Honestly though, it probably is related to the moon light... based on the landmarks I believe you were north of the 10 facing toward the fwy, which should mean the moon would have been right about where those streaks were; so perhaps the light cloud cover broke the moonlight into a bit of a spectrum?

...and how lovely was the moonlight last night anyway? Misty glow, how I love you

[BuddhaPi]

I thought most aliens came form the south, by ground, bus or tunnels??

[lpostrand47]

d. None of the above.

The moon was farther to the left of this shot, so i don't believe it was the moon.

This was on the roof of an apartment in West Hollywood California, so it is not faint Aurora Borealis

There was nothing emitting condensed water

Could it be from the smog above LA?

[Liz Caldwell]

That generally shows up as the light-pollution-orange you already know and love...